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In January 2000 a statewide task force, under the direction of SHD, published "Recommendations for
Improving End-of-life Care for Persons Residing in California Skilled Nursing and Intermediate Care Facilities". (Click here for an order form) The California Department of Health Services (Licensing and Certification) was a member of the task force along with The California Association of Health Facilities, the
California Association of Homes and Services for the Aged, and the California Healthcare Association. Together they distributed 1,500 copies of this document to every skilled nursing facility in the state.Personnel from nursing homes around the state are becoming model facilities in the implementation of these Recommendations. Sponsored by the
California Coalition for Compassionate Care, a program on end-of-life care began Spring 2000 for staff from 50 facilities, and includes
training, technical assistance and follow-up. Another training program will be held Spring 2001 for additional facilities. For more information, contact the Coalition's Executive Director Judy Citko at
916-552-7573 or email:
[email protected]. The ECHO Nursing Facility Recommendations grew
out of an earlier three-year SHD project to encourage appropriate and humane care for dying patients in acute care facilities. The project's 1997 final report, "Community Recommendations for Appropriate and Humane
Medical Care of Dying or Irreversibly Ill Patients", has been requested by 6,500 individuals and organizations throughout the state and country. More important, hospitals in the Sacramento region are implementing
changes in their facilities, and the recommendations have sparked discussion and action in many other communities. (Click here for an order form)
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